23rd session of UNWTO General Assembly launched at the Presidential Library

September 9, 2019, the Presidential Library hosted the events of the UNWTO General Assembly, organized by the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation together with the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg and with the support of the Roscongress Foundation.

Agreements on the organization and holding of a key event in the field of world tourism in the Presidential Library were reached in 2018 - based on the results of holding status meetings at the highest level in this largest business and cultural center of the country related to the positioning of Russia in the international arena.

World Tourism Organization or UNWTO is a leading international structure in the field of tourism, working in the United Nations system and combining more than 150 member countries. The highest governing body of UNWTO - the General Assembly - meets every two years. This year, the honor of accepting it fell to St. Petersburg and the Presidential Library has become one of the sites.

“Such an event is being held for the first time in the Russian Federation”, - UNWTO Director of Communications Marcelo Risi said before the meeting at the Presidential Library. - Two years ago, the Assembly session was held in China. Its venue in two years is not determined so far. The choice is between three candidates: the Philippines, Kenya and Morocco”. 

The 41st UNWTO Affiliate Members Plenary Session was held in the Presidential Library on September 9, bringing together participants from 24 countries of the world. Later, Senate Square 3 welcomed representatives of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics.

The plenary meeting is the most important annual event for the UNWTO Affiliate Members. It provides facilities for discussing the annual work program, expressing opinions and getting information on what the UNWTO and the Department of Affiliate Members are doing in new and existing areas of work.

Assembly events in St. Petersburg are held at three venues: the Presidential Library, the EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Center and the Taurida Palace and will run until September 13, 2019. More than 1,500 delegates from 158 countries of the world brought together in the city on the Neva to discuss the solution of global challenges facing the tourism sector, including the reform of the UNWTO, the adoption of the UNWTO Framework Convention on the Ethics of Tourism as well as the approve of the themes of World Tourism Day for 2020 and decide on host country for 2021.

The Forum on medical and recreational tourism will run in the Taurida Palace on September 10.

September 11 is the day of the official opening of the 23rd session of the UNWTO General Assembly at the EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Center.

On September 12, UNWTO session delegates will focus on the two topics on the global tourism agenda. A report on ongoing activities and the first results in the field of education and employment in tourism will be made by the Secretary-General of UNWTO Zurab Pololikashvili. The afternoon will be dedicated to the Summit on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Tourism. The date and venue of the 24th session of the General Assembly will be determined and announced on September 12.

The closing event of the General Assembly –111st session of the Executive Council will be held on September 13 at the Presidential Library.

More information on the 23rd session of the UNWTO General Assembly is available on the official website of the event.